“If he had taken better care of himself, not even Messi would compare” - Mario Abrante makes big claim on ex-Barcelona star
Former Barcelona defender Mario Abrante believes Ronaldinho could have been greater than Lionel Messi had he taken better care of himself. The Brazilian legend arrived at Camp Nou in 2003, which marked the start of a golden era at the club.
Ronaldinho was a huge hit with the Catalans, winning the league as well as the Champions League. He also played a huge role in nurturing a young Messi and turning him into one of the best in the world.
Speaking to AS, Abrante lavished praise on the Brazilian.
“Ronaldinho, in my opinion, if he had taken better care of himself, not even Messi would compare. And that’s saying something, considering he trained at only 50–70%. He played with a smile – it was amazing to watch him play and train. For me, during Barça’s golden years, he was the best in the world by far," said Abrante.
He continued:
"It was impossible to take the ball away from him; it was crazy. He was on another level, superior to everyone. And with us, he was fantastic. There were others who wouldn’t even say good morning, but Ronaldinho was absolutely spectacular.”
Ronaldinho spent five seasons with Barcelona, registering 94 goals and 71 assists from 207 games. He eventually left Camp Nou in 2008 to join AC Milan.
Is Lionel Messi Barcelona's most successful player?
Lionel Messi won 35 trophies during his stay at Barcelona and is the club's most successful player. The Argentinean rose through the ranks at Camp Nou before earning his debut in October 2004. He won the league that year, his first trophy with the Catalans.
He went on to win the league a total of 10 times, and the Champions League on four occasions. Messi also has seven Copa del Rey trophies and has won the Supercopa de Espana a total of eight times during his stay with Barcelona.
The player guided the Catalans to three UEFA Super Cup trophies and as many FIFA Club World Cups as well. The Argentinean won six of his eight Ballon d'Or during his time with the LaLiga giants.
La Pulga ultimately left Barcelona in the summer of 2021, following the expiry of his contract. The Catalans failed to offer him a new deal owing to their poor financial situation.
The diminutive magician moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), where he spent two fruitful seasons. The player left the Parisians in the summer of 2023 to move to Inter Miami.